RSPCA rescues "days old" baby hedgehog in Middlesbrough

The RSPCA were called to rescue a baby hedgehog who was found in a garden in Middlesbrough without her mum.

The baby hoglet was found by a resident alone in their garden in Craigearn Road on Saturday. (18 September).

They kept watch on the youngster but they did not see the mother so they safely confined the hedgehog and then contacted the RSPCA.

Animal rescuer officer Ruth Thomas-Coxon collected the baby and she is now in the care of Pawz, a specialist wildlife rehabilitation centre based in Sunderland.

Ruth said the mother was nowhere to be seen and the person who found her was concerned she may have come to some harm.

The tiny hoglet is now doing well and once she is old enough and has been rehabilitated she will be released back into the wild.

Lyn Ebdale, founder director of Pawz for Thought, said:

“We have a fosterer hand-rearing the baby with specialist milk which is safe for hedgehogs on a syringe every two hours and she is doing really well.

“We believe the baby hog is about six or seven days old as she is grey in colour. For the first five days baby hedgehogs are pink in colour and known as pinkies.

“They are completely deaf and blind for the first two weeks and then their eyes will open.

“We will take care of her until she is strong enough to be released back into the wild.”

To find out what you should do if you if you find an orphaned hedgehog visit the RSPCA’s advice page

https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/orphanedanimals/babyhedgehogs